New screenshots and an accompanying report claim that the next Google Hangouts for Android update, version 1.3, will bring new communication abilities. Hangouts is finally expected to get SMS and MMS integration. Up till now it has only worked to unify Google+ Messenger and Google Talk, there was no native ability in Hangouts to send messages through SMS. Google has already promised that SMS integration will come to Hangouts, so its no longer a matter of if it will happen, only of when its actually going to drop. No word as yet on when the updated app will be available for Android devices.

Apparently messages that Hangouts routes through SMS will contain a “via SMS” tag next to the timestamp to indicate that the message has been sent through the text messaging protocol. Users may also have the ability to request delivery reports of sent text messages. MMS integration is said to be onboard as well, though it is not entirely known for sure if sending videos through MMS will be possible, picture messaging is said to work. It is too soon to say if Google Hangouts version 1.3 will be released prior to Android 4.4 KitKat or if Google will wait for the next Android OS update to go live before rolling out the app. Nevertheless, one should keep in mind that these are unofficial claims and rumors, and should in no way be considered as final features for the next Google Hangouts app. [Images via AndroidPolice]